24 hours in Ilkley | An insider’s guide to one of Yorkshire’s beloved spa towns

Make the most out of your day in this picturesque town nestled in the Wharfe Valley with our insider’s guide to the best things to eat, drink and do in Ilkley.

Fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a day away in the countryside?

Then Ilkley is the place for you. Only a 25 minute train ride away from Leeds, Ilkley is a quaint town drenched in history with lots to explore.

The area’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK — and with so much to offer and the Yorkshire dales on your doorstep, it’s easy to see why. 

Stuck where to begin?

The Hoot’s got your back.

Morning

There’s no better way to kickstart your day than with a banging brunch.

Just a five minute walk away from Ilkley train station is Thirty Nine The Grove, a family-run independent cafe that is your one-stop-shop for everything homemade.

From fresh barista coffee with hunks of banana loaf to perfectly poached eggs atop your favourite brunch dish, it’s a wonderful spot to visit and people watch on their sunny terrace that overlooks one of Ilkley’s busiest streets.

Once you’re all fuelled up and ready to embrace the day, it’s time to get your stomp on and take to the Ilkley moors.

Head upward toward White Wells and from there you can choose a route as long or as short as you fancy, but we do recommend stopping by the iconic Cow and Calf rocks where you’ll find the best views overlooking the Wharfe Valley.

But beware of the sheep as they’re often wandering aimlessly through the bracken-laden hills and taking in the stunning vistas themselves.

Afternoon

Success! You’ve got some of the city air out of your lungs and now it’s time for a spot of shopping.

Take a leisurely stroll down The Grove where you’ll find some of the town’s best independent boutiques and shops.

Make sure to pop into The Grove Bookshop which has been there for over 40 years and stocks a wide range of titles in pretty much every genre.

If you’re a homeware fiend then Covet is the place for you, a treasure trove of carefully sourced unique pieces that will bring a smile to your face just by looking at them. From authentic Turkish towels to Danish ceramics, we could spend hours in here curating our dream home.

And of course it wouldn’t be a trip to Ilkley without popping into Betty’s, the famous tea rooms are a proper Yorkshire institution and if you don’t have time for a spot of sophisticated afternoon tea then a takeaway bag jam-packed with fat rascals and fondant fancies will most definitely do the trick.

Gosh, all this shopping is thirsty work isn’t it? And luckily for us, just at the end of The Grove you’ll find Friends of Ham.

A firm favourite in Leeds, this craft beer and wine bar is the perfect afternoon pick me up that also serve up a mouthwatering selection of (yes, you guessed it) ham and tapas plates if you’re feeling peckish.

Take a seat on their sun drenched terrace, order an Aperol Spritz and get stuck into one of their delicious charcuterie boards. You’ll be cancelling your flights to Barcelona in no time.

Evening

Right, now that you’ve wet the whistle with a couple of spritzes it’s time to visit some proper Yorkshire pubs and luckily, Ilkley’s got plenty of them.

Paying homage to the iconic song, the Bar T’at is a lovely pub that have a fantastic selection of local beers and a local, friendly atmosphere.

If the sun is shining then The Black Hat just across the way boasts a huge outdoor terrace that is perfect for soaking in those precious rays.

Fuggle and Golding Tap House is a local favourite and if you can nudge yourself in there on a busy evening, then it’s a wonderful little place to enjoy a taster of some beer from their ever-changing keg lines which showcase some of the best breweries in Britain and from around the world.

Right, it’s time for tea and we hope you fancy Italian because that’s what Ilkley does best.

Emporio Italia is a family-run eatery that has a real cult following, with a menu that changes daily you can guarantee that the freshest ingredients of the highest quality are used in creating authentic dishes made from the heart.

Allow Luigi and his wonderful family look after you in their warm and cosy restaurant, but make sure to book in advance as this place is always bursting at the seams.

Born in Ilkley, Pranzo Italian are dishing up homemade pasta inspired by founder Marco’s legendary Nonna. Their four-hour braised beef shin ragu mafalde never misses and paired with a glass (or bottle) of red, that’ll top your day off in Ilkley just perfectly if you ask us.

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Feature image – The Hoot Leeds